Secondary education, teachers in South Africa

South Africa: Secondary education, teachers was 60.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
60.5%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
90th
of 198 countries
All-time high
63.1%
in 1991
All-time low
49.8%
in 2000
Years of data
20
1991–2023

Secondary education, teachers in South Africa, 1991–2023

02040601991200720231991: 63.1 % female1998: 50.1 % female1999: 50.1 % female2000: 49.8 % female2001: 51.4 % female2002: 51 % female2003: 50.2 % female2004: 51.8 % female2005: 52 % female2006: 52.7 % female2007: 53.2 % female2008: 53.7 % female2009: 54.8 % female2015: 58.1 % female2016: 58 % female2019: 58.8 % female2020: 59.2 % female2021: 60.8 % female2022: 60.5 % female2023: 60.5 % female

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % female.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 60.5% for secondary education, teachers in 2023.

The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, secondary education, teachers in South Africa peaked at 63.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 49.8%, in 2000.

That places South Africa 90th out of 198 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.

Secondary education, teachers in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Secondary education, teachers (% female) in South Africa, 1991 to 2023.
Year % female Change
1991 63.1%
1998 50.1% -20.6%
1999 50.1% -0.1%
2000 49.8% -0.6%
2001 51.4% +3.3%
2002 51.0% -0.8%
2003 50.2% -1.4%
2004 51.8% +3.2%
2005 52.0% +0.3%
2006 52.7% +1.5%
2007 53.2% +0.8%
2008 53.7% +1.0%
2009 54.8% +2.0%
2015 58.1% +6.1%
2016 58.0% -0.3%
2019 58.8% +1.5%
2020 59.2% +0.6%
2021 60.8% +2.6%
2022 60.5% -0.3%
2023 60.5% -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 54.4% 50.1% 63.1% 3
2000s 52.0% 49.8% 54.8% 10
2010s 58.3% 58.0% 58.8% 3
2020s 60.2% 59.2% 60.8% 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 87 Guam 61.9%
  2. 88 Chile 61.6% compare
  3. 89 Brazil 61.6% compare
  4. 91 Naoero 60.4% compare
  5. 92 Turks and Caicos Islands 60.4% compare
  6. 93 China 60.3% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More education data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is secondary education, teachers in South Africa?
Secondary education, teachers in South Africa was 60.5% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest secondary education, teachers recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 63.1% in 1991.
What is the lowest secondary education, teachers recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 49.8% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for secondary education, teachers?
South Africa ranks 90th out of 198 countries with data for 2023.
Is secondary education, teachers rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Secondary education, teachers (% female). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Secondary education, teachers in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/secondary-education-teachers-percent-female/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Secondary education, teachers (% female)
Unit
% female
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
243 places, 6,756 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Female teachers as a percentage of total secondary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.